Door operating mechanism



DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM IMLENTOR ATTORNEY Aug. 29, a F. WAGNER DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Jan. s1. 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR (7W ffmc? uw ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 29, 1944.

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Edward F. Wagner, Lakeville, Ind., assignor to The Studebaker Corporation, South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application January 31, 1941, Serial No. 376,727

11 Claims.

This invention relates to door operating mechanisms and more particularly is concerned with a hinge or operating arrangement for doors in the side cowl of an automotive vehicle to be used as a Ventilating means or as an entrance duct to an air heating or conditioning system for the interior of the vehicle.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide an operating means which will insure positive opening and closing of the door from within the vehicle and will provide a predetermined opening in response to predetermined actuation of a control handle on the inside of the vehicle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a construction which will be free of rattle and vibration and will positively hold the door in the desired position with the operator knowing at all times the position of the door with respect to the door opening.

In its broader aspects the present invention contemplates an operating handle having secured to it a disk carrying a pair of rollers which operate in a pair of symmetrical slots formed in an actuating bar whereby rotation of the handle produces predetermined movement of the actuating bar upon passage of the roller through the slots. The bar, in turn, has connected to it a hinge operating mechanism on which the door is supported whereby predetermined movement of the bar will result in producing a predetermined opening and closing movement of the door relative to the door opening.

In this connection means is provided for maintaining the actuating bar against rattling and predeterminedly positioning the rollers within the slots so that they will at all times move in the desired sequence. Further, resilient means is provided for moving the door towards closed position and for maintaining it closed against a suitable resilient vweatherstripping mechanism which acts both as a cushion and sealing means.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will disclose to those skilled in the art the particular construction and operation of a preferred form of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view, with portions broken away, showing the door operating mechanism and door mounting;

on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 showing the door in a partially opened position;

Figure 4 is a detailed elevational View of the operating handle and actuating bar in door in closed position;

Figure 5 is a corresponding view of the mechanism in intermediate position; and

Figure 6y is a corresponding view showing the mechanism in full open position.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, a supporting plate 5 as shown in Figure l is secured at its corners to the inside panel 6 of the cowl of a vehicle or the like by means of the screws 1. Intermediate the upper and lower ends of the panel 5 there is provided a cross bar generally indicated at 8 which is also secured to the inside frame of the cowl by means of the screws 9. The cross bar 8 is preferably formed as a stamping and has the portion intermediate the ends thereof oii'set as shown clearly in Figure 2, and is provided with an aperture Ill adapted to receive the bushing I2 for supporting the operating handle. Secured by welding or the like to the inner face of the strap or bar 8 is the arm I3 which has a laterally oiset portion I4 provided with a longitudinally extending slot I5. This places the portion I4 of the arm I3 inwardly between the outer panel I6 and the inner panel B of the cowl.

Screwed into the bushing. I2 is a threaded sleeve I'I in which has been pressed and brazed the end I8 of a handle member I9 which projects outwardly through a rubber grommet 20 into the interior of the vehicle. The end of the handle member I8 projects beyond the inner end of the sleeve I'I and has brazed thereto a disk 22 which is also brazed to the end of the sleeve I'I thereby making a unitary construction in which the handle I9, sleeve I'I and disk 22 are assembled as a rigid unit.

The disk 22 has the rivet Studs 23 spaced diametrically on opposite Vsides 0f the end. I 8 of the handle, which studs have enlarged collar portions 24 forming roller surfaces and head portions 25 for clamping the actuating bar 26 between the disk 22 and the heads 25. The actuating bar 26, at one end thereof, has 'inturned arm portions 2l forming means for supporting a vertically extending pin 28 beyond the ear portions 21. The end of the member 2611s provided with a stud 29 having a collar portion 3-0 slidable in the slot I5 ofthe arm I3 and provided with a head 3| whereby the bar 26 is held against lateral displacement relative to the portion I4 of the arm. Thus it will be seen that the bar 26 can move longitudinally with respect to the offset portion I4 of the arm by means of the collar sliding in the slot I5.

Adjacent its opposite end the bar 26 is provided with a pair of semi-circular groovesor slots 32 and 33, respectively, which overlap each other so that one end of the slot 33, as indicated at 34, is disposed intermediate the ends 35 and 36 of the slot 32. These slots receive the collar por,- tions 24 of the studs 23 whereby the rotation of the handle I9 will result in the collar 24 sliding along the slots 32 and 33 to move the actuating bar laterally from door-closed position to dooropen position. This movement is clearly illustrated in Figures 4 to 6, inclusive, which will be described in detail hereinafter.

The pin 28 carried by the arms 21 of the bar is adapted to pivotally secure one end of a rod 38 therebetween. Adjacent the opposite end of the rod 38 there is provided a transverse pin 39 and intermediate the ends of the rod a snap ring 40 is provided, acting as a seat for the washer 42 against which one end of the coil spring 43 is biased. The offset end of the spring is biased against a washer 44 and slides axially along the rod. Intermediate the washer 44 and the pin 39 the slotted end 46 of the arm 41 is disposed whereby the spring 43 normally tends to urge the end 46 of the arm toward the pin 39. The arm 41 has its angularly extending portion 49 secured against the face 49 of a bracket member which at its upper and lower ends is provided with inturned ears 56 pivotally secured by pins 52 to the bracket 53 secured to the outer cowl plate. This mounts the arm. 41 and the hinge member 49 for swinging movement; about the pins 52.

Also secured against the opposite face of the portion 48 and arm 41 is a stamping 54 which is flanged for stiffening purposes and has the angularly offset flange portion 55 welded or otherwise secured to a door member 56 which door member is provided with peripheral inturned edges 51. The member 54, the arm 41 and intermediate portion 49 of the bracket 53 are all secured in rmly clamped relationship by means of a pair of studs 58 extending through and threaded into nuts 59 locked on the -inner face of the bracket 4 9. This rmly clamps the entire assembly for unitary pivotal movement about the pins 52 so that the door 56 moves as a unit withthe arm 41.

It will be noted that the outer plate member I6 which forms the panel for the cowl is recessed as indicated at 6U to provide a bracket for receiving the edge of the hood side plate member and at the opposite end the panel is provided with a recess 62 which receives the flanged edge of the conventional door. Intermediate the recesses 6I) and 62 this panel is provided with a rectangularly shaped indented portion forming a rectangular channel 63. The channel 63 opens outwardly and defines the door opening. Secured within this channel is a strip of a soft resilient material such as rubber or the like, indicated at 64, which cooperates with the inturned edges 51 of the door to form a cushioning and sealing means therefor. The strip 64 may be cemented in position or otherwise retained in the channel.

Secured adjacent the forward recess 66 of the outerpanel is a plate member 65 welded or otherwise suitably secured to the cowl panel and having an extended portion 66 adapted to support a screen member 61 in position. The screen extends substantially across the door opening and is for the purpose of preventing the entrance of dirt, insects or the like into the opening when the door is open. The screen, as will be apparent, is supported along one entire longitudinal edge and is suiciently flexible so that it will not be damaged by the impingement of objects thereagainst.

Considering the Figures 3 to 6, the mechanism shown in Figure 3 indicates the door in its intermediate or half open position. This corresponds to the position of the actuating mechanism shown in Figure 5. Figure 2 illustrates the door in its closed position with the mechanism for moving the same positioned as shown in Figure 4.

Considering now the operation of the door mechanism, the details of this operation will be apparent from Figures 4 to 6. In Figure 4 the door mechanism is in door-closed position with the handle I9 in an upright position. Upon rotation of the handle I9 to the left, as viewed in Figure 4, the left-hand roller 24 moves downwardly in the slot 32 at the same time that the right-hand roller is moved upwardly and forwardly. Consequently, a translational movement of the bar 26 is effected and as the handle moves to a downwardly extending position as shown in Figure 5 the roller is moved entirely through the slot 32 from one end thereof to the other. This movement is accomplished by a rotation of the handle member. At the same time the righthand roller 24 has stayed within the end 34 of the slot 33 and has moved from one side of the roller adjacent the handle I9 to the opposite side thereof, thereby moving the bar 26 laterally to the left a distance equal to the distance between the rollers 24. The actuating bar 26 is restrained from separating movement by engagement of the rivet 29 in the slot I5 of the arm I3 and consequently the bar 26 moves laterally to the left, pulling the'rod 38 therewith. Pulling ofthe rod 36 results in the cotter pin 39 at the free end thereof engaging against the forked end of the arm 31, producing a counterclockwise rotation of the arm and the brackets 50 and 54 about the pivots 52. This moves the door from the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 3.

In order to prevent rattling of the actuating bar 26 and to hold the rollers positively in position in the ends of the slots, a spring 10, as shown in Figure l, is connected to the actuating bar by being secured at one end in the opening 12 of the bar and at the other end to a bracket 13 secured to the inner panel 6 below the opening receiving the actuating mechanism. The lower bracket is provided with a flanged end 14 in which the opposite end of the spring 16 is retained. Consequently, there is a continuous downward tension on the bar 26 which maintains the rollers in proper position so that the bar 26 will move laterally upon rotation of the handle I9.

With the handle I9 in the position shown in Figure 5, that is, with the rollers 24 in the ends of the slots 32 and 33 as indicated at 34 and 36, further counterclockwise rotation of the handle,

as viewed in Figure 5, results in the left-hand` roller 24 of Figure 5'moving through the slot 33 to the end 31 of this slot, while the opposite roller 24 is retained in the end 36 of the slot 32 and produces the desired further movement of the actuating bar 26 to the left. Thus, in the full open position of the door as shown in Figure 6 the rollers 24 are in the opposite ends of the slots 32 and 33 from that position which they initially assumed when the door was closed as shown in Figure 4. The handle I9, at this time, has moved into an upright position corresponding to that of `Figure 4 and the complete cycle ofrotation has resulted in moving the actuating bar 26 laterally a distance equal to the distancebetween the ends of the slots, that is, a distance equal to the distance between the ends 35 and 36 or the ends 34 and 31. Reversal of rotation of the handle i9 from the position shown in Figure 6 moves the actuating bar 25 laterally tothe right thus moving the rod 38 to the right and as clearly disclosed in Figures 2 and 3 the spring 43 then engages the opposite face of the arm 41 to force` the door supporting bracket to swing ina clockwise direction about the pivots 62 toward a door-closed position. When the handle again assumes the position shown in Figure 4, the actuating bar 25 has moved through its full range of positions and consequentlyi the door is restored to closed position as shown in Figure 2.

The use of the spring 'lil is desired as it tends to maintain the rollers 24 in the ends of the slots and consequently gives an indication to the-operator of the handle I9 as to the position of the door. The door will be rmly retained in any of the positions shown .in Figures 4, or 6 due to the tension of the spring 'Ill regardless of the effect of the wind on the door structure. Thus, a holding type of door opening mechanism is provided which isv capable of indicating the position of the door in accordance with the position of the operating handle and which is rattleproof and free from vibration or the like so as to provide a sturdy, rugged construction of simple form.

It will be noted from Figures 1 and 4 that the end 35 of the slot 32 is slightly extended, whereby when the handle I9 is in door-closed position it is slightly cocked to the right, with the pins or rollers 24 out of alinement with a horizontal plane. This produces what might be considered an overcenter positionV as between the axis of the rod 38 and the left-hand roller 24, Thus the handle, through the spring 1Q, is cocked against opening,v and the spring 43 has full opportunity to function in holding the door closed, the pin 39 being out of the way, as shown in Figure 2. This holds the door against rattling and also imposes slightly greater resistance to initial door opening movement of the handle I9. serves as a means of indicating to the driver the position which the door occupies, since in full open position the handle is vertical.

I am aware that various changes may be made in certain details of the present construction and I therefore do not intend to be limited except as dened by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. Means for operatinga cowl door comprising a rotatable handle member, having a pair of spaced rollers, an actuating bar having symmetrical arcuate slots respectively receiving said rollers, a rodpivotally connected to said bar, a door pivoting bracket having an arm connected to said rod and operable to move said door upon longitudinal movement of said rod, and guide means for one end of said bar whereby upon rotation of said handle said rollers successively move through said slots for shifting said bar laterally in said guide means.

2. The operating means of claim 1 further characterized in the provision of spring means engaging said bar for biasing said rollers toward the ends of said slots from any position intermediate said ends.

3. Actuating means for a pivotally mounted door including a rotatable handle having dia- It also metrically opposed pins at the end thereof, an actuating bar having a pair of similar U-shaped arcuate. slots .arranged in overlapping relation `with the outer end of one slot slightly extended,

'bar downwardly to maintain said pins in said slot ends whereby said handle is Vin an overcenter position when one pin is in said extended slot, initial rotation of said handle causing said one pin to move through its slot while the other pin remains in the second slot end whereby said bar is shifted laterally, and subsequent rotation of said handle causes said rst pin to remain in the opposite end of its slot while said other pin moves through the second slot, whereby said bar is again shifted laterally in the same direction, shifting of said bar causing said rod to rotate said door and said spring tending to prevent said handle from maintaining a position with said pins intermediate the slot ends.

4. In a door operating mechanism of the class described, a rotatable operating handle, a disc secured to the end of said handle having diametrically opposite axially projecting pins, an actuating member having connection to a pivotally lmounted door and having a pair of laterally spaced substantially semi-circular slots each receiving one of` said pins, said slots having adjacent ends overlapping, whereby upon rotation of said handle through one half revolution one of said pins remains in the end of one slot while the other pin moves from the corresponding end of its slot to the opposite end thereof, said member shifting laterally a distance equal to the chord between the slot ends.

5. The mechanism of claim 4 further characterized in that during the neXt half revolution of said handle said one pin moves through its slot while said other pin remains in said opposite end of its slot, thereb;7 again shifting said member axially the same distance.

6. The mechanism of claim 4 wherein when said pins are in corresponding ends of said slots rotation of said handle is limited to one direction only.

7. In combination, an operating door handle member mounted for rotational movement, an actuating member shiftable substantially rectilinearly upon rotation of said handle, a door, a hinge connected to said door` providing for pivotal mounting thereof; a motion-transmitting member having its opposite ends pivotally connected to said actuating member and said hinge with at least one pivotal connection having lost motion, and spring means carried by said motion transmitting member intermediate the pivotal connection of its ends for taking up the lost motion of said one pivotal connection, said motiontransmitting member upon rectilinear movement of said actuating member causing rotation of said door about its pivot.

8. In combination, an operating door handle member mounted for rotational movement, an actuating memberl shiftable substantially rectilinearly upon rotation of said handle, a door, a hinge connected to said door providing for pivotal mounting of the latter; a motion-transmitting member pivotally connected to said actuating member, a pivotal connection having lost motion connecting said motion-transmiting member and said hinge, and spring means carried by said motion transmitting member intermediate the pivotal connections of its ends for taking up Y the lost motion of said last pivotal connection,

said motion-transmitting member upon rectilinear movement of said actuating member causing rotation of said door about its pivot.

9. In combination, an operating door handle member mounted for rotational movement and having spaced rollers, an actuating member having arcuate slots for receiving said rollers and shiftable rectilinearly thereby upon rotation of said handle member, spring means for urging said rollers into the ends of said slots, a pivotally mounted door, a motion-transmitting member having its opposite ends pivotally connected to said actuating member and said door with at least one pivotal connection having lost motion, and spring means for taking up the lost motion of said one pivotal connection, said motion transmitting member upon rectilinear movement of said actuating member causing rotation of said door about its pivot.

10. In combination, an operating handle member mounted for rotational movement and having spaced rollers, an actuating member having arcuate slots for receiving said rollers and shiftable rectilnearly thereby upon rotation of said handle member, one of said slots extending into said actuating member so that when a roller is disposed therein said operating handle is positioned overcenter, spring means for urging said rollers into the ends of said slots, a pivotally mounted door, a motion-transmitting member having its opposite ends pivotally connected to said actuating member and said door With at least one pivotal connection having lost'motion, and spring means for taking up the lost motion of said one pivotal connection, said motion-transmitting member upon rectilinear movement of said actuating member causing rotation of said door about its pivot.

11. In combination, an operating handle member, means for mounting said handle Ifor rotation and progressively moving said handle in a direction axially of its axis of rotation, an actuating member movable substantially rectilinear-ly upon rotation of said handle member, a stationary guide member receiving one end of said actuating member, means between said handle and said actuating member whereby upon rotation of said handle said actuating member is shifted axially of said axis in the same direction as said handle and rectilinearly at substantially right angles of said axis, said guide member being positioned to compensate for the axial and rectilinear movement of said actuating member to maintain a minimum of contact between said one end of said actuating member and said guide member, a pivotally mounted door, and a motiontransmitting member between said door and said actuating member to transmit rectilinear movement of the latter into rotational movement of the door about is pivot.

EDWARD F. WAGNER. 

